[17alpha,16alpha-d]oxazoline pregnanes and process therefor



United States Patent 3,413,286 [170a,16a-(11OXAZ0LINE PREGNANES AND PROCESS THEREFOR Giangiacomo Nathansohn and Giorgio Winters, Milan, Italy, assignors to Lepefit S.p.A. Milan, Italy No Drawing. Filed Mar. 30, 1966, Ser. No. 538,555 Claims priority, application Great Britain, Apr. 22, 1965, 17,027/65; Aug. 20, 1965, 35,865/65 3 Claims. (Cl. 260-23955) This invention is concerned with new steroids. More particularly, the compounds with which this invention is concerned are steroid -[17a,16a-d] oxazolines of the formula wherein R is a member of the class consisting of HUI-OH), H( 8-OAcyl) O; R is a member of the class consisting of H and O; R" is a member of the class consisting of H, alkyl, aralkyl and aryl group. A double bond may be present at position 4 or 5 (6). When no double bond is present, the class of steroids herein claimed belongs to the Sa-s'eries.

The process for the preparation of the novel compounds starts from a 165,17fl-epoxide and runs through the following steps:

The process consists of refluxing one part by weight of the l 6fi,l7fi-epoxide with 2-4 parts by weight of sodium azide in a water miscible organic solvent in the presence of an amount of any acid capable to set free hydrazoic acid from its salts, said acid being added in a ratio of one to at least three equivalents to one mole of the epoxide.

The obtained 16a-hydroxy-l7u-azidosteroid is then acylated by usual procedures, as for instance by treatment with a carboxylic acid anhydride in the presence of pyridine, and the l6a-acyloxy-17u-azidosteroid is converted into the 2'-substituted-[17a,16a-d]-oxazoline by catalytic hydrogenation in the presence of 9. Pt, Pd or Ni catalyst. When a B S-OH group is present, it can optionally be oxidized to 3-keto group to give the compounds of the generic formula in which R is oxygen.

In the first step of the process hereinbefore described it has been found that by carrying out the epoxide ring cleavage, i.e. the step from I to II above, in particular solvents, such as f.i. dimethylformamide or anhydrous dimethyl-sulfoxide, it is possible to control the reaction in order to isolate some stereoisomers of the lfiu-hydroxyl7a-azidosteroid which form as intermediates. Thus, the formation of 1GB-hydroxy-17ot-azidosteroids and/or 16,3- hydroxy-l7fi-azidosteroids has been observed along with the desired 16a-hydroxy-l7a-azidosteroids. Both these stereoisomers through a retroaldol rearrangement are easily converted into compound II by processes which are described in detail in the appended examples and which consist in contacting a solution of the undesired stereoisomer with an alkaline agent such as alkali metal hydroxides, alkaline earth hydroxides, ammonia, sodium azide and so on. Occasionally, also anhydrous acidic agents may promote the rearrangement, though in a longer time.

A further side product is occasionally observed when product III above, i.e. the 16a-acyloxy-17a-azidosteroid, is converted into the oxazoline IV. The side product is the 16a-hydroxy-17u-acylmido derivative.

which, when present, is readily converted into the oxazoline, for instance by treating it in benzene in the presence of traces of an acidic catalyst such as p-toluenesulfonic acid, sulfuric acid, hydrochloric acid etc.

The steroidal oxazolines as well as most of the intermediates and the other stearoidal substances herein described, show interesting pharmacological activities as progestinics and antiinflammatory agents. Moreover, the end oxazolines are useful intermediate compounds for the preparation of the steroids claimed in our copending application.

The process hereinbefore described gives rise to a number of steroidal structures which all show a considerable degree of pharmacological interest. Besides the oxazolines, represented in the generic formula above, which are the end products of the main process of our. invention, other generic formulae of novel compounds deriving from the process include the following wherein R, R and R" have the same significances which have been given above for the interpretation of the generic formula of the steroidal oxazolines, and wherein a double bond may be present in positions 4 or 5 (6).

The several substituents which are present in those parts of the steroidal molecule not being affected by the processes herein described, and represented as symbols R and R in the generic formula, may be present in the starting compounds or may be subsequently introduced or transformed according to well known procedures.

For the purpose of illustration only, the following examples are given, which, however, do not intend to establish the limits of our invention. These limits are given only by the generic formulas above and by the several processes described throughout the specification.

EXAMPLE 1 Preparation of a-pregnane-3 3-ol-l1,20-dione 17a,16a-d- 2-methyloxazoline (a) l7a-bromo-5a-pregnane-3fl,l6l8-diol-l1,20-dione 3 acetate. To a solution of 175 g. of 5u-pregn-16-en-3fl-o1- 11,20dione 3-acetate in 2300 ml. of tetrahydrofuran, 1340 ml. of HClO 0.46 N are added stirring and in the darkness, followed by 115.3 g. of N-bromoacetamide. After 4 hours the excess N-bromo-acetamide is destroyed by the addition of sodium bisulfite, the solvent is distilled off and the residue is diluted with water. Yield 230' g.; M.P. 169- 172 C.; from benzene, M.P. 195-198 C.; [!]p+19.9 (c. 0.5, CHCl The corresponding 3-propionate can be prepared in the same way and has M.P. 173-175 C.

(b) 16,8,17/3 epoxy 5a,17u pregnane-3fi-ol-1L20- dione. To a boiling solution of 222 g. of the above derivative in 2000 ml. of methanol a solution of 73 g. of KOH in 111 ml. of water and 435 ml. of methanol is added. After refluxing for 1 hour the mixture is concentrated to about /5 of its volume and diluted with water. The precipitate is collected and dried. Yield 140 g.; M.P. 175- 178" C.; [ab-113 (c. 0.5, CHCl (after crystallization from benzene). The acetate has M.P. 205207 C.

(c) 170: azido 50c pregnane 3B,16a-diol-11,20- dione. A mixture of g. of the above epoxide, 60 g. of NaN 4.2 ml. of H SO 150 ml. of water and 300 ml. of ethanol is refluxed for 6 hours. After concentration to about one third of the volume the mass is diluted with water and extracted with ethyl acetate. After evaporation of the organic solvent the residue (19.7 g.) is recrystallized from methyl acetate, M.P. 233-234 C. [ab-48.3 (c. 0.5, CH OH). The 35,16oz-diacetate (prepared from acetic anhydride-pyridine) has M.P. 167-169 C. [ab-824 (c. 0.5, Cit-I01 (d) A solution of 38 g. of 17a-azido 5a pregnane- 3,9,16a-diol-11,20dione-3,16-diacetate in 2300 ml. of methanol is hydrogenated at ordinary pressure in the presence of 11 g. of PtO The mixture is filtered, the solvent is distilled off from the filtrate and the residue is boiled 1 hour in benzene with traces of p-toluensulfonic acid, quantitatively giving the desired 5a-pregnane-35-ol- 11,20 dione [17a,16a-d]-2'-methyl-oxazoline 3-acetate, M.P. 243-248 C., [a] +78.5(c. 0.5, CHCI The oxazoline 3-acetate obtained as above is easily converted into the corresponding 3-OH compound by short refluxing with a water-methanol solution of KOH or dilute hydrochloric acid. The oxazoline has M.P. 210- 212 C., [a] +1O3.5 (c. 0.5, CHCl EXAMPLE 2 Preparation of 4-pregnene-3,20-dione-[17a,16a-d]-2- methyloxazoline (a) To a solution of 40 g. of 16,19,17fl-epoxy-l7a-pregn- 5-ene-3 8-ol-20-one in 400 ml. of dimethylformamide 6.8 g. of 98% H SQ, in 8 ml. of water are added followed by 80 g. of sodium azide. After 2 hours at 120-125 C. the mixture still hot is diluted with 300 ml. of a 3% solution of sodium bicarbonate in water, followed by 700 ml. of

warm water added slowly. After spontaneous cooling the precipitate is collected and dried. Crude yield 40.2 g. of a product which is used as such for the subsequent acetylation step. A sample recrystallized from methanol shows M.P. 2l6-217 C., [a] l27.5 (c. 1, CHCl (b) The above 170: azido pregn 5 ene 3 3,160:- diol-20-one dissolved in 80 ml. of pyridine, is reacted at room temperature with 46.5 ml. of acetic anhydride. After 4 16 hours the mixture is poured into dilute hydrochloric acid (2% and the precipitate is collected. After recrystallization from methanol the compound has M.P. 186- 188 C., [M -159 (c. 1, CHCl Yield 26 g. (53%) of 17oz azido pregn 5 ene 3fl,16a-diol-20-dione-3, 16-diacetate.

(c) Ten grams of the above product dissolved in 3000 ml. of methanol are hydrogenated with 30 g. of Raney- Ni; after 1 hour the catalyst is removed by filtration and the solvent is distilled off; 9.3 g. of 17a-acetarnido-pregn- 5-ene-3 3,l6zx diol 20 one 3-acetate are obtained. This compound is cyclized to oxazoline by boiling with 100 mg. of p-toluenesulfonic acid in benzene for 1 hour. The solution is washed with dilute NaHCO' and subsequently evaporated to dryness; 8.8 g. of crude oxazoline are obtained with M.P. l64-168 C. A crystallization from methanol yields 7 g. (77%) of the compound with M.P. 174-176; a further crystallization from methanol carried out on a very small amount of the substance gave a product with M.P. 177 C. This substance is S-pregnene- 3/3-ol20-one 170:,l6oz-d 2'-methyloxazoline-3-acetate.

(d) Twenty-two ml. of aqueous 1% KOH are added to a solution of 5 g. of 5-pregnene-3 3-ol-20-one-[l7a,16ad]-2-methyloxazoline 3-acetate in 80 ml. of methanol, and the mixture is refluxed for 15 minutes under nitrogen. The mixture is adjusted to neutral pH with acetic acid, then concentrated to one half of its volume and diluted with warm water. After cooling 3.5 g. of product are obtained (77%), M.P. 200-205 C. This product is 5- pregnene 3,8 ol 20 one [17a,16a-d]-2-methyloxazoline. [fi] +5.5 (c. 0.5, CI-ICl (e) An amount of 6.6 g. of the above product is dissolved in 300 ml. of toluene and 60 ml. of cyclohexanone and to the solution 3 g. of Al isopropoxide dissolved in 40 ml. of toluene are added. After 1 hour of refluxing 2.2 ml. of acetic acid are added and a steam distillation is carried out for 4 hours. The solid residue is collected and dissolved in hot methanol; after filtration the solution is concentrated to dryness, and the obtained crude material is crystallized from ethyl acetate. The M.P. is 196- 198 C., yield 5 g. (75%) of 4-pregnene-3,20-dione- [17a,16a d] 2 methyloxazoline, [0C]p+130.5 (c. 0.5, CHCI EXAMPLE 3 Preparation of 4-pregnene-3,20-dione-[17a,16u-d]-2- methyloxazoline Starting from 170: pregn-4-ene-3,20-dione 16 8,175- epoxide and operating as described in Example 2, 17aazido 4 pregnen-16a-ol-3,20-dione is prepared, M.P. 225-227 C., [a] +1 (c. 0.5, CHC1 the acetate melts at 124-125" C., [ab-684 (c. 0.5, CHCI From the 16ot-hydroxy 17a azido compound, 4-pregnene- 3,20-diOI1e-[17a,l6m d] 2 methyloxazoline is prepared operating as described in Example 2; this product is obtained in yield of 77%, M.P. 196198 C., [a] +130.5 (c. 0.5, CHCI EXAMPLE 4 (a) An amount of 38 g. of 16B,l7fl-epoxy-5a-pregnane 35-01-1 1,20-dione dissolved in acetone is oxidized at room temperature with an 8 N solution of H CrO in H SO Water is added and the solvent is evaporated thus obtaining 37 g. (97%) of 16/3,175-epoxy-5a-pregnane-3,1l, 20-trione, M.P. 205208 C., [a] +9.4 (c. 0.70, CHCI (b) Twenty grams of said compound are added to 60 g. of sodium azide suspended in dimethylsulfoxide and H 804 (100:1). The mixture is heated to C. for 1 hour, then it is poured into aqueous 0.5% hydrochloric acid. Water is added and the organic solvents are removed obtained solution is made neutral with NaHCO and concentrated in vacuo. The obtained oil is taken up with methanol-tetrahydrofuran (6:4.8). Aqueous K CO is added (95 ml.) under N stream and with stirring; the temperature is kept under C. Stirring is continued for minutes, then the solution is made neutral with acetic acid. Water is added and the organic solvents are removed in vacuo, then the aqueous solution is extracted with chloroform; the product is then purified by column percolation through silicagel. The resulting product after crystallization from ethanol melts at 225228 C. Yield 18 g. (80%) of 17a azido-Sa-pregnane-l6a-ol-3,11,20- trione.

(c) This compound (10 g.) dissolved in ml. of

anhydrous pyridine is reacted at 0 C. with 6.5 ml. of benzoyl chloride. After 7 hours at room temperature the mixture is poured into one half liter aqueous 5% hydrochloric acid. An extraction is made with methylene chloride, the extract is made neutral and evaporated to dryness, thus obtainiiig 17a azido 5a pregnane-16a-ol- 3,11,20-trione-16-benzoate. The product is recrystallized from ethyl ether giving a yield of 10 g. (78%), M.P. 220-222" C., [a] 95.3 (c. 0.5, CHCl (d) A solution of the hereinabove product (6 g.) in ethyl acetate is stirred with 1.5 g. of Raney-Ni under hydrogen stream. The catalyst is removed by filtration and the solvent is evaporated in vacuo to dryness. The residue is taken up with anhydrous benzene and 0.1 g. of ptoluenesulfonic acid is added. After 1 hour of refluxing the mixture is concentrated in vacuo to small volume and hexane is added to complete precipitation of the product. Yield 3.2 g. of 5a-pregnane-3,11,20-trione- [1701,1611 d] 2' phenyloxazoline, M.P. -160 C., [ah-146 (c. 0.5, CHCl EXAMPLE 5 Preparation of 5a-pregnane-3p-ol-1 1,20-dione-[17a, 16a-d]-2-phenyloxazoline-3-benzoate (a) An amount of 37 g. of 17u-azido-5a-pregnane-3fl, 16a-diol-11,20-dione prepared as described in Example 1, are dissolved in 185 m1. of pyridine and carefully treated with 27.5 ml. of benzoyl chloride at the temperature of 0 C. The cooled mixture is then stirred for 1 hour, then for another hour at room temperature; then it is poured into 2000 ml. of ice-water containing 130 ml. of hydrochloric acid. The precipitate-"is collected, washed and boiled in diethyl ether (about 200'ml.), from which it is recovered after cooling. The dibenzoyl derivative thus obtained weighs 52 g., M.P. 223-225 C., [a] -89.9 (c. 0.5, CHClz).

(b) An amount of 38g. of 17a-azido-5a-pregnane- 3,8,16a-di0l-11,20-dione-3,lfi-dibenzoate, dissolved in 1400 ml. of ethyl acetate is hydrogenated at standard pressure with 2.5 g. of PtO After 3 hours the catalyst is removed by filtration, and the filtrate is evaporated in vacuo to dryness. The residue is suspended in 500 ml. of benzene and is refluxed for 1 hour after addition of 2 drops of concentrated sulfuric acid. The mixture is then cooled and washed with sodium bicarbonate and water, then it is dried over sodium sulfate, and the solvent is evaporated in vacuo. The oily residue is crystallized from isopropanol; it is the desired 5a-pregnane-3/3-ol-11,20-dione- [:,16ot-d]-2-phenyloxyazoline-3-benzoate; its weight is 28 g., M.P. 216-217 C., [04] +20.7 (c. 0.5, OHCl EXAMPLE 6 Preparation of 5 m-pregnane-3 8-01-1 1,20-dione-[17a, 16a-d] -2'-butyloxazoline-3-valerate (a) An amount of 50 g. of 17u-azido-5a-pregnane-35, 16a-diol-11,20-dione prepared as described in Example 1, dissolved in 500 ml. of CH CI and 200 ml. of pyridine are treated with 39.6 ml. of valeroyl chloride (dissolved in 250 ml. of CHgClg), which is added dropwise at a temperature of -1518 C. After 1 hourof stirring at 15 C. the mixture is washed with aqueous 10% bydrochloric acid, then with NaHCO and H 0, then it is dried over Na SO and the solvent is evaporated in vacuo.

The residue is crystallized from methanol, thus obtaining 44.26 g. (61.6%) of l7a-azido-5a-pregnane-3fi,l6a-dioll1,20-dione-3,16-divalerate, M.P. 110-112 C., [ab 63.6 (c. 0.5, CHCl (b) An amount of 10 g. of the above product, dissolved in 450 ml. of methanol is hydrogenated for 4.5 hours using 1.3 g. of PtO as the catalyst. Then the catalyst is removed and the solvent is evaporated in vacuo; the residue is 5a-pregnane-3/3-ol 11,20 dione-[17u,16a-d]-2- butyloxazoline-3-valerate. After hydrolysis in a methanol solution of KOH the corresponding 3fl-ol-derivative is obtained, which when crystallized from ligr-oin has M.P. 136-137 C., [0th, +80.5 (c. 0.5, CHCI We claim:

1. A process for preparing a Si6IOid-[17a,16ot-d] oxazoline with a fused cyclopentane-oxazoline ring system of the formula wherein R" represents a member selected from hydrogen, aryl, aralkyl and lower alkyl groups, which comprises refluxing a steroid of the 16,6,17/3-epoxy-20-keto-17upregnane series with sodium azide in a solvent in the presence of an amount of an acid capable of setting free hydrazoic acid from its salts, reacting the obtained 16ozhydroxy-17a-azide with an agent selected from lower aliphatic and aromatic carboxylic acid acyl anhydrides and chlorides, and catalytically hydrogenating the 16u-acyloxy- 17a-3Zid6 in the presence of a metal selected from platinum, palladium and nickel as the catalyst.

2. A compound selected from a steroid-[17a,16a-d]- oxazoline of the formula wherein R is a member of the class consisting of O, H(/3OH) and HQB-O-acyl) R is a member of the class consisting of H and O, R" is a member of the class consisting of hydrogen, lower alkyl, aralkyl and aryl groups, and its A and M -derivatives.

3. A compound of the formula References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,297,688 1/1967 Fritsch et al. 3,349,084 10/1967 Ayer et al.

H. A. FRENCH, Primary Examiner. 

2. A COMPOUND SELECTED FROM A STEROID-(17A,16A-D)OXAZOLINE OF THE FORMULA 